Tears for Fears- Woman in Chains (First Listen) 

Roland Orzabal is just a genius; musically, lyrically and vocally.

This song makes me cry every single time. This was the song that gave me the courage to get out of a marriage that was destructive to both of us and our sons caught in the crossfire. The lyrics with the male and female singer was like a dialogue between the two people in a relationship is ending badly.

This is the BEST TFF song, hands down. Oleta Adams is magical. She toured with them (I saw the concert) and it was incredible.

One of the best bands of the eighties!👏

When they sing the line "it's under my skin but out of my hands" chills every time.

The music video to this song is gorgeous. This song always makes me realize how important the women in my life are. It makes me a better man to listen this and treat and appreciate the women in my life better.

This song is very highly regarded among renowned music producers and sound engineers in regards to its mix; Some of them even say it's the best-mixed song ever! Hence it's also often chosen to try out new studio equipment, particular speakers 🙂

One of my absolute all time favourite songs

In 2004 I saw them in Kansas City they did not tour with Oleta Adams but she was in the audience and they got her to come up and play Woman In Chains during encore. It was an amazing night.

Hey there - just found your channel! About this song: the first time I heard it I had literally just gotten safely out of a very abusive relationship and was a survivor with a 8 month old child. The song was cathartic to me - reminded me, that I was not alone, that someone out there knew what I was going through and how hard it had been to break out. Today my daughter is doing fine . she is an astonishing woman. And I will never regret getting away from her father. And I will always be grateful for the help and support I received. This song? It got to the center of it all! I love it.

TFF. One amaziiing band. I feel they deserve more credit. It's just one of those bands who work with their hearts and ideals. But in doing so you can really appreciate them as they are, their uniqueness, quality and soul. They make 'intelligent' songs that leave a deep mark in your subconscious. The 'colour' of TFF is distinct enough that I cannot not listen to one of their songs (on a daily basis haha). Working Hour packs a lot of energy and is a mood lifter. Oleta and Roland packs a punch in Badman's Song. Appreciate you doing this, J. Sun moon wind rain ☀️🌙🌬️🌧️

a masterpiece. the lyrics, Oleta Adams, Phil Collins doing the drums. Heaven!

This is a hair-on-the-arms raiser. "Big Chair" and this album are the best 80s albums recorded, IMHO. There is a magnificent live video of this song on YT with Oleta. Simply breathtaking...

I agree with you! The Working Hour is just wonderful! I´m a 49 y/o TFF fan from South America. I love how younger people are interested in this amazing english Band. They are so underrated.

Now you really need to listen to some level 42 songs like leaving me now or running in the family, lessons in love or something about you

Phil Collins on drums! 👌

30 years ago I was living in LA - I worked as a kind of go-go dancer in a club and the DJ and I were big fans of this band. At the end of the night - last call, we would play Woman in Chains, Heroes, or Tower of Song and I had a beautiful gown//robe I would go on stage with for a non go go last dance of the night. This song just brings you to your knees. It might be too emotional to listen to all the time - but I have such strong memories of it. Thanks for listening to this one. Elemental is a great and underrated album too - very worth hearing.

One of the best mixes I've ever heard on a track, it's a gem of infinite sides

When I first heard this, it sounded plain compared to their other songs, but something about the message stuck with me. As I heard it again, I began to love it and the intricate subtle details in the song. The more you listen to it, the more beautiful it gets. I later began to love it as it helped me realize the personal prison I was in. I can't listen without crying 😢😢😢

The working hour 😍 pure emotion, give me chills every time

I’ve always listened to music in something of a vacuum, never discussing it with someone else and I must say what an eye opening experience to hear another perspective/ opinion. I’m learning so much from you. It really enhances my music journey. These are songs I’ve listened to for decades but seeing now with different eyes, or hearing now with different ears.

totally second you with "The Working Hour".....absolutely the most sublime moment on Songs from the Big Chair.. the Seeds of Love tracks are so soulful and vibrant though, they're still worth a listen through

OMG What a track. Production magnificent. Lucky enough to see TFF play this track live in 2019. Unbelievable experience.

Bad man's song is for me their finest moment of many high points. Btw Oletta Adams also features on both vocals and piano on it.

The Hurting is their best album, IMHO.

Oleta Adams singing , outstanding ! She's perfect!

They saw Oleta perform in a hotel bar on their Big Chair tour on which they increasingly felt they were stuck to all the machines they used to produce their records and perform live. But they still moved ahead on their third album doing it in their tried and tested way but got nowhere. Then they remembered that magical night where they felt the music she performed so they tracked her down and started to work differently on the songs they had. They drafted in ace players to help them out. The result is an amazing album that for me is their pinnacle.

Other songs from the 80's worth reacting to. Echo and the Bunnymen - Killing Moon Siouxsie and the Banshees - Spellbound Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way XTC - Senses Working Overtime

Pure art, at its finest. Will say it again the production on TFF albums is up there with very best. What a beautiful, powerful song.

This is the first time I’ve watched you. And it was because I saw that you were reviewing my favorite song from my favorite album of all time. I’m sitting here, unable to get off the sofa and go to work, because I suffer from depression and have my whole life. But after hearing your analysis of the song and the fact that the song causes such an endorphin rush in me, has allowed me to free myself from this disease at least today. Thank you. A little side note - I am a big fan of Nagra audio products and if you ever get to visit their factory in Switzerland, you will find The Seeds Of Love on display in their lobby because it is a favorite of the company’s chief sound engineer, Rene LaFlamme.

Glad you liked it. I love the production. Phil's memorable fill comes right before "So free her". One of my all-time faves. You've done me a solid. Ms. Oleta Adams also plays the keys, and she does a phenomenal job as an unofficial member of TFF on many songs from this fine LP. Also, Manu Katche has played with Sting and extensively with Peter Gabriel.

I hope you'll react to Sowing The Seeds Of Love as well, it's one of the most sophisticated pop songs ever made IMO. It changes constantly. I posted my TFF list before, so you know that The Working Hour is my #1 TFF song, and Sowing The Seeds is #2. I consider TFF the best melody writers of the 80s. ABBA are those of the 70s, the Beatles are those of the 60s. Which is fitting, because Sowing The Seeds is an ode to the Beatles.

Yes one of the only Tears for Fears songs that have always been on one of my extended playlists. As much as I love them their hits were way over played back in the day. The other one that remains on my extended playlist is the title track of this album. 'Sowing the seeds of love'. A near perfectly made song, heavily influenced by the Beatles - 'I am the Walrus'. Really nice reaction. Made me think much deeper about the lyrics. Thanks.

Songs of my youth. Man I miss the 80s

Achingly beautiful song.

That bass!, the great Pino Palladino.

Explore their albums Elemental, Raul and the Kings of Spain , Tomcats Screaming Outside and Everybody Loves A Happy Ending.

Manu Katché (first part) on drums, and Phil Collins (from the drum break to the end)

Beautiful, strong, gentle and ethereal♥️

I've always thought this could be a song in a musical. Your note about how they dance then come together to me really echoes that, I can close my eyes and see them on stage together.

The whole album is a gem, really

In top 5 if not top 3, Tears for Fears songs ... easy.

A very nice review of an amazing song.

Shamelessly, I only added this to my collection cos of Phil Collins' involvement on the drums and he does a typically great job of course. Beyond that, this is a highly listenable track and I love the way they allow time for it to develop. The message too is powerful and that they involved female singer (and one as good as Oleta Adams at that) shows their commitment to that message. One of their best imo and your call of Working Hour from SFTBC has blown a memory for me - a great track.. so guess what I'll be listening to this afternoon/weekend, haha. What is this? Me joining you on another non-Genesis reaction video? Maybe Phil's involvement disqualifies it thus, but hey, WiC is a great song and being a man of song yourself, it would've been a surprise for you not to like it! Cheers!

They are amazing live, Head Over Heels intro just put a massive smile on my face. You have amazing taste 😁👌🏻

Such a luscious track and great message given the extra boost of the wonderful Oleta Adams. Saw them earlier this year with Alison Moyet which was a great night.

You've succinctly put into words why the lyrics are so great. I love all TFF's music and place them all very highly, but this one track is one that can actually bring a lump to my throat. Masterpiece.

my favorite band....

Masterpiece , soundtrack of my life

WOW great reaction to a great group and song. I had a chance to see them in concert and it was Awsome. 😀😃😄😁

the best song ever. may all time favourite

Love this whole album! TFF is one of my favorite bands ever. My three favorite songs from this album are Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Badman’s Song and Year Of The Knife. I also love Advice for The Young At Heart.

yeaaaaaah, someone loves "the working hour" as much as I do, nobody reviews "reacts" to this wonderful song, most folks don't even remember it but out of all of the "songs from the big chair".

This is a great song I remember the video being on MTV a lot at the time 👏👍

They are so good !

Another great song from Tears for fears :) Thanks JustJP :) i miss the 80's very much everything about the 80's i love :)

There is a certain warmth every time I hear this song. Haven't hear the song in a long time, definitely brings back fond memories. Good choice rosenfield and good reaction. On a separate note, love to see a reaction to The Kings "the beat goes on/switchin to glide. It's a fun rock tune, one my of favorites from that era.

My favorite song by them

I really like the Seeds Of Love album. I think they really came of age on that record. Don't listen to them enough, but I really need to dig out some of their stuff from my collection.

Love this song

WOW!

It’s so well done, You have to know the voices to hear when Curt comes in.

Eric Clapton heard them live and predicted their success. Start with "Everybody wants......" and go from there. Roland's voice is operatic. His range is limitless.

Woman in Chains...beautiful Tears for Fears song!

Absolutely stonning lyrics, excellent discovery for me ! :)

Hey Justin, you are going through my personal musiclibrary it seems 😉. Love it. The next song on this album, Badman's Song is even better. When I heard this one performed live in 1990....perfect!

14:22 - It's called 'The Stadium effect' - meant to arouse the crowed on the show. This was very typicall in the 80's. And now we miss it...

They work well together on Me And My Big Ideas too.

I agree 100% with your comments about The Working Hour song from SFTBC. It’s my favourite one too. But this song is built in the same way . Quiet to the climax.

Mi Amigo , de la exquisita música de los 80-90 Tears for fears es un diamante , arreglos musicales , las voces equilibradas y épica de Orzabal ( siempre) aqui en brillante dueto , un clima denso y en aumento , gracias por detenerte en esta increible canción.

SO relevant today.

Thank you for listening to the whole song before reacting! Amazing track that deserves to be heard and not talked over 😃

I love your analysis of the lyrics. Right on point. Some people don't "get it".

how great is that :) not a lot can beat his voice to be honest.

She jams on the piano in their live performance of 'Badman's Song'

The whole Seeds of Love album is great. TFT is one of those art/pop bands that I find musically very interesting and satisfying. Raul And The Kings Of Spain is also excellent. Heck even their outtakes album Saturnine has some great moments like their cover of Bowie’s Ashes To Ashes and the more ambient music.

Excellent Album !! Fantastics musicians, Phil collins, katché, Pino palladino on bass.... listen to badman song !! And all the album 😍😍

I’m partial to their debut “The Hurting” a lot darker in tone, still listen to that album on occasion. There’s been a ton of great music released in 2019 try Guster-overexcited

My fave by these is Suffer The Children...a haunting, moving song that you can never forget once you've heard it.

Amen on The Working Hour. Live one I believe 1983? Best EVER.

nothing can top Songs from the big chair for me but this album is a close second.

Great choice!

The Songs From the Big Chair is one of my favorite albums. The Working Hour is one of my favorite songs and by far my favorite Tears for Fears song. Tears for Fears' albums are all good; however, I didn't like Seeds of Love when it came out although I did like Sowing the Seeds of Love. The album was too slow for me at the time. I was in High School and wanted to rock more. Now I think the album is gorgeous. While not The Working Hour soul moving, Woman in Chains is a beautiful song. I'm glad I gave it a second chance when I got older.

Dang. You said the Working Hour. Good esthetics. I had that in my head while watching Tears for Fears oriented 80s reaction videos from the younger gens last few days.. I'm 53 Seattle dude. As a Targeted Idividual I see only high pattern not physical world so well. You said it: Songs from the big chair. I like to think she is free at least when this song roll. Happen to know a track in last decade to check out? I like good songwriting and pschedelics.

Think they first saw Oleta performing in a hotel lounge ... probably the outstanding song from an overdue, overwrought over-produced Seeds album... 😜

I agree with you about "The Working Hour" but many other songs from them needs to be discover by you, take time to do it, you will it!!!!

The thing I love about the song is the multiple levels the lyrical meaning works on. According to Wikipedia, Roland Orzabal told Melody Maker the following: "I was reading some feminist literature at the time and I discovered that there are societies in the world still in existence today that are non-patriarchal. They don't have the man at the top and the women at the bottom. They're matricentric-they have the woman at the centre and these societies are a lot less violent, a lot less greedy and there's generally less animosity... but the song is also about how men traditionally play down the feminine side of their characters and how both men and women suffer for it.... I think men in a patriarchal society are sold down the river a bit-okay, maybe we're told that we're in control but there are also a hell of a lot of things that we miss out on, which women are allowed to be". Before reading that, I thought the song might have been about the struggles of transgendered people, with the "woman in chains" being someone who identifies as a woman but was biologically born male. Tears for Fears have never said that's what the song is about, but I feel like it could apply.

I do love this song but I think my favorite off that album is Advice for the Young at Heart. Back in 2017 they actually released a new single called I Love You but I'm Lost. It's quite good.

I loved this review! I always have loved this band! I like Songs From The Big Chair too but for me Seeds of Love is my favorite album by TFF! The band just sounds so great on this album including the drummers! Manu Katche and Phil Collins are world class! If you did this song you HAVE to review Bad Man’s Song, my favorite from this album! They saw Oleta Adams playing piano at their Hotel in Kansas City while on tour for SFTBC and were blown away by her voice. Anyway, thanks 😊 so much...this video was a treat.

Steven Wilson has remixed this album for a box coming out soon. Can't wait. 4 discs with booklet etc for 79.99

Tears for Fears... in the 80.s some really great groups emerged or broke out as some were formed already in the 70.s and TFF was definitely on my top list. It was almost like an alternative group though their many hits. Saw them in 1994 I think it was. They belonged to a group of bands that made timeless songs, XTC, REM, INXS, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, U2, Billy Idol etc. Smooth Rock, not hard but more than synthpop...well OK, let’s move in The Cure and Pet Shop Boys into the list also then

Cool! Not my favourite TfF song, but good to hear it again, and remember how good they were. :)

I think you'll like to hear a band called Prefab Sprout, for me they are awesome in doing great pop songs, you can give a try to the songs: Appetite, Moving the River, Bonny, When Love Breaks Down, Faron Young, Don't Sing, Ghost Town Blues or Hey Manhattan!

It's good that you' re being honest in your comment/ reaction..... All I know is Tears for Fears--a great band....

Every TFF album is great.

I agree my fav Tears for Fears song is the Working Hour!

My favorite from the big chair is Mother's Talk

This is also one of my all-time favourite songs! Such good memories hearing this song that are still so fresh in my head after all this time. Any song by Sade gives me the same feeling that this song gives me. I'd love you to react to some of Sade's music (Smooth Operator, The Sweetest Taboo, No Ordinary Love). Haunting voice.

Did you post your reaction to The Working Hour?!! My absolute favorite. Hope it was the Live '84 or '85? Some people don't realize what we had there.

I don't think I've seen you react to any OMD yet. Might I suggest SOUVENIR, Joan of Arc, Enola Gay, 88 Seconds in Greensboro, Secret, So in Love or Forever Live and Die. The last three mentioned are more popular, but all of their stuff is quite listenable.